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Gildernew welcomes creation of Breastfeeding Community of Practice

Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew has welcomed the creation of Breastfeeding Community of Practice. Speaking after the first meeting of the group she said:

"I would like to commend the organisers of today's meeting on establishing a local breastfeeding community of practice.

"Today's event was attended by a wide range of breastfeeding mothers, practitioners and interested parties.

"Establishing a group of this kind is a pivotal and much-needed step towards normalising breast-feeding.

"The founding members of this group, also established the very successful local Breastival which was an opportunity for local women to celebrate breast-feeding.

"Personally I was inspired by today's meeting. Initiatives of this kind are essential if we are to promote and normalise breastfeeding. I look forward to future events organised by the group.

"The north has one of the worst rates of breastfeeding in Europe. It is important, not only to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding but to promote actions that actively support mothers who want to breastfeed.

"Breastfeeding legislation – which my colleague, former Health Minister Michelle O’Neill, tasked the health department to develop – is needed to ensure mothers have the right to breastfeed their children with confidence and without interruption in a public place." ENDS/CRÍOCH